Work holder for forging machines



Aug. 8, 1950 5, SNQREK v 2,518,086

WORK HOLDER FOR FORGING MACHINES Filed March 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1FIG.-

FIG. 2

Aug. 8, 1950 s. J. SNOREK 2,518,086

WORK HOLDER FOR FORGING MACHINES Filed March 5, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2dnimirmlh ATTORNFY .9650 CONT/Pat 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 con/m0: I400! 815 EDER IVAL W SPEED S. J. SNOREK WORK HOLDER FOR FORGING MACHINES LVE mumu: 75

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HIGH FIFESSl/Rt' Aug. 8; 1950 Filed March 5, 1948 avvavfan 5'. JS/VO/PEKer rron/v47 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 WORKJHOLDER. FOR FORGING MACHINESStanley J. Snorek, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, a corporation of New York Application March 5, 1948,Serial No. 13,155

I 3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming indentations in articlesand more particularly to an apparatus for pressing pairs of opposedconical shaped recesses of the same size in opposite sides of relayarmatures.

Anobject of the present invention'is to provide a simple and effectiveapparatus for forming indentations in an article.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a support forsupporting an article between a pairof opposed tools mounted forreciprocation on opposite sides of the support and positively actuatedin opposite directions by fluid actuators operated under control ofsuitable control mechanism. The article is positioned on the horizontalsurface of the support with one edge in engagement with a, stationaryjaw on the support and is clamped against the stationary jaw by ahorizontally movable clamping jaw yieldably mounted for movement on aplunger moved under the influence of a third fluid actuator. The thirdfluid actuator, in response to the admission of fluid pressure thereinunder control of a pair of manually operated valves, advances theplungerand the movablevjawto effect the clamping of the article against thestationary jaw, and the end of the plunger, as it is moved forward,actuates a bell crank clamping member to clamp the article verticallyagainst the horizontal surface of the support. A microswitch, operatedin response to the forward movement of the plunger, actuates the controlmechanism to admit fluid under low pressure to the tool actuators tocause the forward movement of the tools into engagement with theopposite.

surfaces of the article, after which a foot valve may be actuated toadmit fluid under high pressure to the tool actuators tocause the toolsto be further advanced to press identical lndenta- I tions in oppositesides of the article.

The invention will be more fully understood by the followingdetaileddescription thereof and the accompanying drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention in which Fig. 1 is a plan view ofa portion of. the appas ratus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical lateral sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the article inposiiton in the apparatus and parts of the apparatus acting thereon; 7

Fig.4 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of the apparatustaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the parts -of the apparatusin normal inoperative position;

plate I! of the apparatus. transversely extending shoulder or jaw I8 isFig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing an article. clamped inposition thereon;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of a portion of the .article showing theindentations formed therein by this apparatus;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a portion of the indentationforming tool; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus showing the controlsystem thereof.

The apparatus disclosed herein is adapted to simultaneously press a pairof oppositely dis-- posed conical recesses or indentations into anarticle ID. The article it, in the embodiment shown herein, is a relayarmature comprising a flat iron disc having a rectangularly shaped tab Iextending therefrom into the opposite edge portions of which it isdesired to form conical shaped pivot bearing recesses H. The recessesII, instead of being formed directly in the soft iron armature, areformed in hardened inserts l2 secured to the armature and forming a partthereof.

The article lllis adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface or seat!5 of a work support A or block 16 (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted on a base Anupwardly and formed on the forward end of the support It and is adaptedto be engaged by the tab portion of the article. The article It! may beclamped against the jaw [8 by a movable jaw l9, which has a reducedforward end slidably engaging the surface l5 and a vertical V-shapedsurface 2!] engageable with the edge of the article ID, The

" jaw, 19 is yieldably mounted on an actuating rod or plunger 22 formovement therewith and is provided with a longitudinal aperture 23 forreceiving the rod 22. nected at one end to a piston of a fluid actuator24 and is guidedat its forward end in a bore 25 in the support I6. Acollar or shoulder '26 is provided on the rod and serves as a stopengageable with the shoulder formed by the reduced end of the aperture23. A spring 21 encircling the. rod .22 is interposed between theshoulder 26 anda bushing 28slidably engaging the rod and threaded intothe forward end of the aperture 23 and acts to urge the jaw 19 forwardly,against the stop shoulder 26 and maintain the jaw in its forward.position on the rod 22..

A clamping member 30 operable in response to theforward movement of theactuating rod 22 is provided to clamp the article ID vertically againstthe surface [5 of the support It. The

member 30, comprising a bell crank having a de- The plunger 22 is conipending arm 3 I and a laterally extending arm 32, is fulcrumed on a pin33 mounted in a block 34. The block 34, which is mounted on the base I lof the apparatus, is recessed to receive a portion of the clampingmember 30 and has a recess 35 for receiving one end of a compressionspring 36, the other end of which fits into a recess in the arm 32 andurges the bell crank clamping member 31} in a clockwise direction. Thearm- 32 of the clamping member 30is recessed at 38' to receive a block39, which is pivotally mounted on a pin it carried by the clampingmember 302 The clamping member 39 is urged by thespring; 36 to itsinoperative position, as shown in Fig. 4, and is adapted to be rotated acounter-clockewise direction by the forwardmovementof the actuating rod22 to clamp the article It between the lower surface of the block 39and-the surface l5 of the support l6, as shown in Fig. 5.

Disposed on opposite sides of the work support- It and slidable insuitable guide blocks 15-46 (Figs. and 2:) are. a: pair of oppositelydisposed tool actuating: rods or carriers 71-418;. The rods 471 andi 4%are connected to.- pistons. of fluid actuators. 5H: and. 5 4:,respectively, which. are mounted on the base ll f the apparatus. Each.of. the

toot carriers. idi and: 48:, at its forward end, is recessed: to receivea tool. holder &2 in. which the tool fifiiis mounted. The tool. Ehhas aconical'end 56 and a flat annular shoulder 57 around the pointed end56.. The. shoulder 51 is engageable with thesidei of the article:- lll:to press. or flatten: the; annular ridge. formed by the end 56- duringthaindentatinnforming operation. The shoulder 51: BIISQ- serves tostop:- the forward movement of the: tocl: and gage the size of theindentation, which otherwise would'bezdetermined-by the pressuraapplieditc the tools.

Thefluid actuators 50 21111151 (Fig. 8) comprise air cylinders of thesame size: having reciprocable pistons. therein which are positiveldriven in oppositedirections by air underpressriroadmitted through pairsof conduits or pipe lines 653, B1 and 62-; 6.8: connected to ports atthe inner and? outer ends; respectively, of the air cylinders 59- and5-1. The linesaoii and 61." are connected' at a point equidistantiromthe cylinders toan airsuppi y line55' which has connected therein a:speed-control valve 66 a. SOiIenOidi operated cutoff and bleeder valve67; check'va lve E8, anda prossureregulatihg valve- 68: set. to. providea low" pressure in: theline The valve 69 is-connected through a line Tlto the main high pressure air supply line 12'. The lines 62 and 63 areconnected at a: point equi-distant from the cylinder to a branch: supplyline. 73; which. has in it a speed control valve 16, a, so1e-- noidoperated cutoff and bleeder valve IT, and. a pressure regulating valve-TBset to: provide a high: pressure in line It; By-havingthe fluidactuators 517 and 5-1 of the same size and applyingfluid thereto throughthe arrangement of piping disclosed, equal pressures are applied tothepistons thereof and to the tools actuated thereby.

A branch conduit ll'c con-nects the high pressure regulating valve 18 tothe main supply: Iine= 12 Another branch line 8 connected to the mainsupply line 72 supplies air to the air cylinder- 24 and has in it a pairof manually operated control valves 83 and 84 and a speed control valve85= A foot operated control valve- 87 is connected by a: line 88 betweenthe high pressureline H and thelow pressure line 65-and serves, whenoperated; to pass the high pressure air from the line 1-5 through thelines 88', 65; 60 and 6! to theair cylinders 50 and 5 I".

The check valve 68 is set to pass the air therethrough in the directionof the arrow and prevent the flow of air therethrough in a reversedirection. The speed control valves 66 and 16 are set to passtherethrough, at a predetermined rate, air exhausted from the cylinders50 and 5| and thus regulate the rate of movement of the tool carriers 41and 48. Air passing through the valves 66 and T6 inxaforwarddirectiontothe cylindersafll and 5+ is not affected by the valves6% and 76. The solenoid operated cut-off and bleeder valves 6'! and Hare spring-returned to normal operative position. and solenoid actuatedto their other operative position. Each of the valves 6'! and 11, in:itsnormal operative position, cuts on the bleeder port'stherein andestablishes communication between the lines connected to it and, in itsother: operativeposition, cuts off communication between the linesconnected to it and establishes connection between the bleeder ports inthe valve and the line connected to the fluid actuator.

The solenoid operated valves-:65! andi lfiiarercnnnested? in electricalcircuits. to. microswitches am and. are; respectively; (Fig: 8). andwhen either switch; is actuated, the circuit. associated; there-- withis closed. to; energize" the solenoid: connected;

therein; and shift thevalveto its .other' operative posit-1011.. The:-microswitch 82-: (Figs. 4; and: 5);,

mounted on the block 116;. is. adaptedto. beactw ated; by. a cam. 9ccarried by thezmd; 221m.- response to the reciprocation: of: the rod.indicated.

Figs. hand 5',.the1switch 9.2;is actuated: or'closed when theactuatingrodli isimits retracted; POSi'r tion: and is; open; when rod;722i is: in its ad vanced position Theaswitchsfl. (-Eigs; 4; 5;): ismountedi on the. block 3.4; and is adapted; to: be actuated; by aplunger 96: mountert'for horizontal. reciprocation in the block; 35 anzhnormally: urged; to. the left, asv viewed in. Figs. 4 .amh5. by: a.spring 91-.. The plunger 9.8 i'samove'dztcz theright-to'actuate and.close the: switch .911 by-the movement of the: bell cram: clamping:member 35: in response tothe; fina'k portion: of; the. forward. movementof the actuating-rod; 2-2..

In. the: norm-at or inoperative condition of the: apparatus, as'indi'cated in: Fig; 8', themicrnswitch 92: actuated the: circuitassociated: therewith is: closed, and theso-lenoid valve 11 isactuatedtto its secondposition, cutting: oi? the bleede'r ports ot'the valve andestablishing communication between the. high pressure air supply and theinner ends of the. air cylinders 51? and it. The microswi'tch in: thenormal inoperative position of the a pparatus, is in it open position;and thesolenoid operated valve 6'!- is in its normal or deenergizedposition, cutting off the low pressure air supply to the outer ends ofthe air cylinders 50 and H,

hausted through the bleeder port's'of the valve 61 Operation In theoperation of the mechani m. an article It is pla e on s rfa e it of heWork. support Ht with the rectangular tab portion of the article inengagement with the jaw l8'of the work support; after which the operatorengages the control valves 83 and 84 with his hands and actuates themtoadmit'fiuid pressure into the end of ais 'ispse the air 'cylir'ider :4a advancethrod 12211; is; the

rod 22 advances, it jr'n'ov'es the'jaw l9 int'oiengage disengage itselffrom and open the microswitch- 92 and thereby open the circuitto anddeenerglize the solenoid valve 11 and veffect itsgnovement to its normaloperating position tov cut off the highv pressure air supply to thelines 52 and 63 andthe inner ends of the pistons 50 and iii and,simultaneously therewith, establishcommunication between the inner 'endsof the cylinders 50 and 5| and the bleeder-"ports in the valve H.

As the actuating rod 22 continues its forward movement, the microswitch90 will be actuated thereby through the agency of the arm 32 and plunger96. With the actuation of the microswitch 90, the circuit is closed toenergize the valve 61 and move .it to its other operative position,connecting the low pressure air supply to the lines 60 and 6| and theouter ends of the air cylinders 56 and 5| and cutting off thecommunication between the outer ends of the cylinders and the bleederports in the valve 61. Thus, with the valve 6'! moved to its otherposition under the influence of the energization of the solenoid, lowpressure air flows into the outer end of the air cylinders 50 and 5| andmoves the pistons and tools forward at a predetermined rate of movement,controlled by the valve 66, into engagement with the article ID. Themovement of the tools is arrested when the ends thereof engage thearticle l because of the low pressure of the fluid urging the tools 55forward and this insures that both of the tools will be in properstarting position and in engagement with the article even though thelocation of the articles In in the work holder may vary slightly insucceeding operations.

The operator may now step on the foot control valve 8'! to connect thehigh pressure air to the lines 65, 60 and BI and to the outer end of thecylinders 55 and The high pressure air, which is the same in the aircylinders 59 and 5|, causes the tools to be advanced simultaneously andat the same rate of travel to press the conical ends 56 thereof into thesides of the article to form identical conical shaped indentations i2therein. As the conical ends 56 of the tools are pressed into the sidesof the article, the metal in the article will be displaced and tend toform an outwardly extending annular bead which will be engaged by theshoulder 51' on the tool and substantially flattened or pressed backinto the article, after which further movement of the tools is arrestedby the engagement of the shoulders 51 with the sides of the article.

After the indentations l2 have been completely formed, the operator mayrelease the control valves 83, 84 and 81. With the air pressure cut offfrom the air cylinder 24, the piston and the rod 22 are returned totheir normal retracted position by the spring I00 in the air cylinder.As the rod 22 moves to its retracted position, it effects the opening ofthe microswitch 92 and the deenergization of the valve 61, which is thenmoved to its normal operating position to cut ofi the low pressure airsupply to the outer ends of the cylinders and establish communicationbetween the outer ends of thecylinder'fand the bleeder ports of thevalve. Asthe actuator rod, 22 continues its return"movement, the microswitch 92 is actuated to effect the'movement or the solenoidoperatedvalve 11" to itsv energized position to reestablish communicationbetween the high pressure air supplyand the inner ends of the aircylinders 50 and 5!. The pistons in the cylinders 50 and 5! and thetools actuated thereby will thus be moved to their retracted positionsata rate of travel governed" by the speed control valve 66 and therebycomplete the cycle of. operation.

It is to be understood that theabove-described;

arrangements are simply illustrative of the ap? plication ofthe-principles of the invention. Nu merous other arrangements maybereadily devisedby those skilled: in the art which willembodytheprinciples :of the invention and fall within the spirit andscope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding an article in a predetermined position in anarticle processing apparatus comprising a support having a flat surfaceengageable with one face of said article for supporting the articlethereon, a stationary jaw on said support engageable with one side ofsaid article for positioning said article in one direction on saidsupport, an actuating member mounted for reciprocation on said support,a movable jaw, means yieldably mounting said movable jaw on saidactuating member for movement therewith in a predetermined path towardsaid stationary jaw to yieldably clamp said article on said supportagainst the stationary jaw, a bell crank, means supporting said bellcrank for rocking movement with one arm thereof in the path of movementof said actuating member for actuation thereby and the other arm of thebell crank above said flat surface, said bell crank being rocked in onedirection in response to movement of said actuating member in onedirection to cause said other arm of said bell crank to engage anarticle on said support and. clamp it against said support, and meansfor reciprocating said actuating member.

2. A centering and holding device comprising a support having a seatengageable with one face of an article to be processed for supportingthe article thereon, a stationary jaw on said support engageable withone side of said article and adapted to limit the movement of thearticle in one direction to a predetermined position, an

actuating member mounted for reciprocable movement on said support, amovable jaw having a recess therein for receiving a portion of saidarticle to position said article along a predetermined center line,means yieldably mounting said movable jaw on said actuating member formovement therewith toward said stationary jaw to yieldably clamp saidarticle against the stationary jaw and on said predetermined centerline, a bell crank, means mounting said bell crank for pivotal movementwith one arm thereof in the path of movement of said actuating memberfor actuation thereby and the other arm thereof guided for movementtoward and away from said seat to clamp an article against said supportin response to movement of the actuating member in one direction, andmeans for actuating said actuating member.

3. A device for holding an article in a predetermined position in amachine for processing said article comprising a support having a seatengageable with said article for supporting said article thereon, astationary jaw on said support engagea'ble'with one side of saidarticle; asjaw. movable toward said stationary jaw and having; articleengaging surfaces forming a V-shaped recess for positioning said articleon a predetermined center line and clamping said article against saidstationary jaw,ga bel1'crank, meansmounting said bell crank forpivotalmovement and for guiding one arm thereof toward and away fromsaid seat, a clamping element pivotally mounted'on said one armof saidbellcrank engageable with an article on said seat,,a rod; mounted forreciprocable movement along a. predetermined path and engageable with,the other arm of said bell crank for rockingsaid bell crank, meansyieldably mounting said movable.

jaw on said rod for movement therewith toward and away from saidstationary jaw, and actue ating means for. reciprocating said rod tocause.- the actuation of saidmovable jaw and said. hell crank foreffecting the centering and clamping of" said article: by'the.movablejaw against the stationary jaw and the clamping; of said articleagainst: the seat by the clamping: element.

STANLEY J SNOREK;

REFERENCE S CITED UNITED; STATES" PATENTS Number Name Date 524,092Marcad'er Aug; 7;,1894 1,257,391- Potuzak Feb. 16', 1918? 1,431,868Bedell Oct. 10, 1922? 1',6'I2,082 Oakley June 5, 1928' 1,696,850Killingsworth Dec. 25', 1928 2,004;540 Smith June: 11', 1935' 2,058,8087 Long Oct: 27, I936?

